The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted PTI leaders and lawyers permission to visit ex-premier Imran Khan — who is incarcerated at Adiala Jail — and hold election meetings in the run-up to the February 8 polls.
The order was passed by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb on a petition filed by Imran seeking permission to hold meetings with party members Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar Khan, senators Aurangzeb Khan and Dost Mohammad Khan, and Ishtiaq Meherban, among others, to strategise ahead of the elections.
The plea also requested the court to instruct the superintendent of Adiala Jail to ensure privacy for Imran during his consultations with his legal team.
With the poll schedule released, election-related activities have begun inside the camps of major political parties. The election programme is fully under way with the deadline for filing nomination papers over on Sunday. The returning officers will examine the nomination papers from Dec 25 to Dec 30.
PTI Chairman Gohar Khan emphasized Imran Khan’s role in ticket allotment, while Barrister Ali Zafar prioritized PTI workers in jail for tickets. In the IHC today, AGP Mansoor Usman Awan, PTI lawyers, and the Adiala Jail superintendent appeared. PTI sought discussions for 700 ticket allotments, but AGP questioned the plea’s maintainability. Justice Aurangzeb expressed displeasure, citing the Supreme Court’s note and asking if an additional note was needed.
He passed these remarks in reference to Justice Athar Minallah’s additional note in the cipher case. In his note, the SC judge had highlighted that it was the Election Commission of Pakistan and the government’s duty to ensure that the public was facilitated in expressing its will through a “genuine election”, adding that it was also bound to ensure that there was no perception of oppression or repression against one political party while others were treated favourably.
Justice Aurangzeb criticizes the AGP and advocate general, stating they should be impartial as representatives of the caretaker government. He questions the caretakers’ interference in election consultations, expressing concern about derailing the polls. The court permits PTI lawyers, including Chairman Gohar Khan, to consult with Imran Khan in jail, emphasizing it as a fundamental right. Justice Aurangzeb insists on the caretaker government’s neutrality and disposes of the petition. PTI lawyer Shaheen accuses caretakers of acting on someone’s orders and highlights the public’s support for Imran Khan, foreseeing defeat for the ECP and elite political parties.
“What is the capacity or credibility left of this puppet caretaker government?” the lawyer asked. He also criticised the police maltreatment of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi outside Adiala Jail earlier this week.
“We have made a mockery of ourselves in the entire world,” Shaheen added.